I thought long about replying to this but I think I need to.
I have lived in Germany for over 30 years and actually speak German better then English.
Now Uwe or others might say it is not a case of Language but it actually is. If you translate what he wrote in English back into German you would find a normal conversation between Germans. No rudeness, just plain information without playing around.
In the German forum they got the same info as we did and thats the end for them. Conversations go to other subjects until further notice. Thats just the German way to handel things. Someone does not have to like it but it is what it is. I for one like it but then again I am biased.
Friends of mine here have told me after they knew me better they thought the same about me as Tai Pan was told. I was even considered arrogant at the begin.
Now that they know me much better and consider that at times I still think in German they just get a chuckle out of it and remind me to think in English. It makes for some funny conversation though hihi.
If dealing with different nationalities it is not just the language that matters but also the nuances of how the language is used.
Just remember those translated manuals from Chinese to English and there you have the extreme case
Just thought I
throw that in and go back silently into my corner